Paragraph 3:5–11
Theme: Paul commanded the Colossians not to do what was evil.
3:5a
Put to death: This is a figure of speech that means: “have nothing to do with,” “do not associate with,” “refuse to do,” or “eliminate completely.” Paul was saying that the Colossians should no longer act in these ways, in fact, they should totally reject such behavior. It is as if such ways of behaving are “dead” and therefore these old ways no longer control the believers. Here is another way to translate this phrase:
So put all evil things out of your life (New Century Version)
therefore: This word connects this paragraph to what Paul had said before. Here Paul began to instruct the Colossians about how they should and should not behave, but he based his commands on the previous paragraphs. These paragraphs described the new life the Colossians now had because they had trusted in Christ.
the components of your earthly nature: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as earthly is literally “on the earth.” It is the same phrase Paul used in 3:2b. It means the evil deeds and desires that come from the old sinful nature. Paul was telling the Colossians that they must put to death anything that belongs to that old sinful nature. In other words, they should no longer behave the way they used to behave before they trusted in Christ.
3:5b–c
In 3:5b–c Paul lists five kinds of evil behavior as examples of “the components of your earthly nature.”
3:5b
sexual immorality, impurity, lust: The first three kinds of evil behavior that Paul listed were sexual sins.
sexual immorality: The Greek word porneia that the Berean Standard Bible translates sexual immorality is a general term that means any kind of unlawful sexual behavior. This includes people having sex before they are married or having sex with someone other than their own husband or wife.
impurity: The second term, impurity, also refers to sexual sin. It is often mentioned together with porneia, “sexual immorality,” in the NT. It can be translated, “doing indecent things,” or “doing shameful things.”
lust: The last term, lust, means “strong desire, passion.” In this verse, it probably means strong sexual desire.
It is difficult to make differences between these three terms in some languages. If you do not have different terms for each of these ideas in your language, here are some ways you could combine them:
Do not commit adultery or do other deeds that people are ashamed to talk about.
-or-
Do not behave in any sort of sexually immoral way.
evil desires: The fourth term, evil desires, is a general term. It probably refers not only to evil sexual desires, but also to any kind of evil desire. Here is another way to translate this term:
Do not desire to do what is evil (SSA)
Since Paul has just referred to sexual sins, you may want to translate it like this:
and do not desire to do other kinds of evil
3:5c
greed: The fifth term, greed, means desiring to get more and more things, such as money or other possessions.
which is idolatry: Paul said here that “greed” is the same as idolatry. Idolatry usually means, “the worship of idols rather than God.”
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